Real Science: When Howard brings a simulation space toilet to Leonard and Sheldon’s apartment to work on a fix, he also brings a box of supplies that are similar to only the things the astronauts on the ISS have available to them. But the episode’s tag scene reveals the truth, when the ISS inhabitants communicate to NASA that they need to take an “unscheduled space walk.” Wolowitz’s dense meatloaf as faux poo) finally lead to what Howard believes is a solution. “Apparently, there is no law of diminishing comedic returns with space poop,” Sheldon happily realizes. He begs his friends to help him fix the problem before NASA discovers it, and they agree, offering a never-ending run of toilet humor jokes along with their assistance. TV Science: Howard celebrates a recent career win - the completion of a space toilet that will be installed at the International Space Station - only to realize that he made an error that will result in the toilet failing and sending dookie floating around the astronauts’ home after ten flushes. More Science: Schrödinger’s cat popped up on several more TBBT occasions, including in the season-two episode “The Codpiece Topology,” when Penny tried to explain the concept to a new date, Eric, who thought Schrödinger was a Peanuts character. In the end, Leonard showed up for the date and planted a kiss on Penny, and they both decided it didn’t matter if the cat was out of the bag - er, box - or not they were going on that date. Leonard had the same fear, but immediately understood Sheldon’s advice when he offered Schrödinger’s cat as food for thought. Sheldon explained the theory to her as a way to help her decide whether she should go on a date with Leonard, or cancel the date to preserve their friendship. Penny also didn’t know about Austrian physicist Edwin Schrödinger’s idea that a cat, put inside a box with a vial of poison that will break open at a random time, can be considered both dead and alive until the box is opened. TV Science: Raise your hand if you understand the Schrödinger’s-cat thought experiment because of The Big Bang Theory. This is one of the Emmy-winning comedy’s most under-appreciated legacies, and in honor of the show’s impact, we’re fondly remembering 18 of the smartest, science-friendly Big Bang Theory episodes. Thanks to Sheldon’s romantic advice for Penny, for example, who among TBBT viewers hasn’t felt super smart showing off their understanding of the Schrödinger’s-cat thought experiment? Who didn’t consider starting their own business after the guys helped Penny sell thousands of dollars of glittery hair barrettes with their science, marketing, and manufacturing insights? And who hasn’t become so invested in Sheldon and Amy’s quest to win a Nobel Prize that they’ve made the effort to try to understand what “superasymmetry” actually is? And while they’ve displayed more than their share of nerdery and goofiness, the TBBT gang has also exposed viewers to plenty of real-world science and of-the-moment scientific discoveries. For 12 seasons, The Big Bang Theory has been allowing us to hang out with a group of geniuses.
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